Portable electric toilet



July 15, 1969 R. F. CORLISS PORTABLE ELECTRIC TOILET s l V WF MWM 9 NL E i m a WCJFT m 0 3 u KY ROB Filed Sept. 22. 1966 July 15, 1969 R. F. CORLISS PORTABLE ELECTRIC TOILET 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22. 1966 INVENTOR. RoeEerE (024/55 July 15, 1969 R. F. CORLISS 3,454,967

PORTABLE ELECTRIC TOILET Filed Sept. 22. 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 24 ZZQ 55 56 I i 55b 5* IO 76 73 O Q; 50

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ROBE/2T1: Cozuss United States Patent 3,454,967 PORTABLE ELECTRIC TOILET Robert F. Corliss, Hacienda Heights, Calif., assignor to Monogram Industries, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Sept. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 581,265

Int. Cl. E03d 11/10 US. Cl. 4--77 9 Claims This invention relates generally to sanitary facilities, and more particularly concerns an unusually advantageous compact electrically operated toilet adaptedto-remain portable or to be installed permanently.

There is a need, as for example, for use and installation in connection with camping equipment, for toilet facilities that will not require use of the campers limited water supply, and yet will provide the many advantages in operation and use as will be described herein. Among these is electrically powered flushing action that makes use of a battery power supply.

Basically, the toilet assembly comprises a receptacle for receiving a mixture of flush liquid and sewage, a toilet bowl having a discharge outlet into the lower interior of the receptacle, a toilet seat extending generally above the level of the bowl, means including a pump with an electric drive operable to transfer flush liquid from the receptacle lower interior to drain over the bowl upper surface and then through the bowl outlet for return to the receptacle lower interior, a valve closing the outlet to trap some of the flush liquid to stand in the bowl, and control means operable to bodily displace the valve away from the outlet for releasing drainage of flush liquid through the outlet and also to effect operation of the pump drive. As will be seen, the control means typically includes a manually actuated plunger, an arm connected with the valve, and force transmitting cam and follower surfaces relatively movable to move the arm thereby to bodily displace the valve downwardly and sidewardly above the level of flush liquid in the receptacle interior to open the bowl outlet in response to actuation of the plunger. In this regard, the valve is closed upwardly to seal against lower rim extent of the bowl defining the outlet, thereby to retain flush liquid in the bowl.

Other objects and advantages include the provision of a perforated divider extending in the receptacle lower interior to divide the lower interior into a first zone located to receive drainage from the bowl outlet and a second zone from which flush liquid is transferred for drainage over the bowl; the provision of a receptacle inlet through which fresh flush liquid may be admitted into the receptacle second zone in order to flow through the divided and into the first zone thereby to unclog divider perforations, and an openable and closable receptacle outlet through which flush liquid and sewage may be released from the first and second zones; the provision of a control switch having an actuating part located to be operated in response to continued movement of the plunger beyond a range of plunger movement sufficient to initiate bodily displacement of the valve whereby flush liquid is transferred to the bowl only after opening of the bowl outlet; the enclosure of the switch and electric drive out of communication with the receptacle interior; the construction of the receptacle in the form of upper and lower sections interlfitting at the rim of the lower receptacle to permit ease of assembly, the sections consisting of molded plastic material; and the provision of two actuators and a plug at receptacle rearward extent as will be described.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of illustrative embodiments, will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective showing of a toilet embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section taken in elevation on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken in elevation on line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken in elevation to show the valve displaced away from the bowl outlet;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 is a view like FIG. 7, but showing the valve displaced away from closed position.

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the receptacle 10 may typically and advantageously be made in the form of upper and lower molded plastic sections and 101;, which interfit and seal at the rim 11 of the lower section, well above the upper surface level of flush liquid 12 contained in the lower section. That flush liquid consists of water, filled into the receptacle through an inlet 13 plugged at 14, together with antiseptic chemicals and sewage rendering the liquid odorless and sanitary. For example, after an initial charge of several (say 3) gallons of water, plus chemicals, up to five or more days usage (over 50 uses) may be made before drainage.

The receptacle upper section 10a supports a toilet seat 15 and cover 16 each hinge connected at 17 to a bracket 18 attached to the receptacle top. Centrally beneath the seat that top is open at 20 and bounded by a downturned flange 21. The interior 22 of a toilet bowl 23 underlies opening 20, the bowl having flange connection at 24 to the underside of the top of the receptacle upper section 10a, and outwardly of flange 21, thereby to provide a downwardly opening channel 25 between flange 21 and the bowl. That channel extends about flange 21 and is adapted to receive flush liquid directed by duct 26 to swirl about the bowl upper surface and drain downwardly toward the bowl outlet 27 during the flushing cycle, the liquid ultimately being released into a first zone 28.

Flush liquid is transferred into duct 26 under pressure by means of a pump 29 and electric drive 30 therefor. FIGS. 4 and 6 show the pump housing 31 submerged in the flush liquid in a second zone 32. The lower interior of the receptacle is divided into zones 28 and 32 by a perforated divider such as screens 33a and 33b carried by an insert shell 34 assembled to fit into the receptacle lower section for bonding thereto prior to assembly of sections 10a and 10b. The coarse and fine screens 33a and 33b respectively block entrance of coarse and fine sewage particles into zone 32 from which flush liquid is withdrawn by the pump 29. In this regard, the fresh water inlet 13 is positioned above zone 32 so that fresh water admitted therein back-flows through the divider and into the first zone 28, thereby to unclog the screen perforations should they become clogged.

The drive 30 is shown in the form of an electric motor received into a tubular well 36 for-med by the plastic tube 37 having a bottom flange 38 to seat and position the motor. The tube 37 has a top flange 39 seating against and bonded to the upper surface of the receptacle top extent 40 rearward of the seat 15, and the tube 37 is capped at 41. A shaft 42 couples the motor drive to a pump impeller 43. The impeller housing 31 has an inlet 44 and an outlet 45 for flush liquid transferred by the impeller from zone 32 to the flexible hose duct 26. The latter is shown as attached to the pump housing and supported so that 3 the duct discharges flush liquid to swirl in channel 25 and over the bowl as described.

An important feature of the invention is the provision of a trap valve closing the bowl outlet to trap some of the flush liquid to stand in the bowl, together with control means operable to bodily displace the valve away from the bowl outlet for releasing drainage of flush liquid through the outlet and also to effect operation of the pump drive. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the valve is in the form of a plastic, as for example rubber, closure plate 50 urged upwardly in FIG. 2 to seal against lower rlm extent 51 of the bowl defining the outlet 27, thereby to retain some flush liquid at 52 in the bowl.

An unusually advantageous control means includes a manually actuated plunger, an arm connected with the valve, and force transmitting cam and follower surfaces relatively movable to move the arm thereby to bodily displace the valve downwardly and sidewardly above the level of flush liquid in the receptacle in response to actuation of the plunger. In the illustrated embodiment, the L-shaped tubular arm 55 has vertical and horizontal extents 55a and 55b, the latter supporting the valve 50 as :by means of a plate 56 attached at 57 to the arm. A tension spring 58, attached to the arm extent 55b at 59 and to the receptacle at 60, urges the arm upwardly to close the valve against the bowl outlet, as seen in FIG. 4. The arm vertical extent 55a is received within a guide :bushing 61 attached to the receptacle to guide vertical stroking of the arm between up and down position seen in FIGS. 4 and respectively. During downward stroking, the arm is pivoted about the vertical axis of arm extent 55a to displace the valve sidewardly, as is clear from inspection of FIGS. 7 and 8. In this regard, FIG. 4 shows a follower finger 62 on the arm extent 55a projecting in a cam slot 63 formed by the guide bushing. The slot extends downwardly at 63a and then angles laterally at 63b to guide the follower downwardly and then laterally as the plunger extent 64 is pushed downwardly by handle 65 against yieldable resistance imposed by the spring 58. The handle bottoms at 66 to limit downward travel of the valve above the surface of the flush liquid 12, as seen in FIG. 5.

The control means may also be considered to include a pump drive control switch having an actuating part located to be operated in response to continued movement of the plunger beyond a range of plunger movement sufficient to initiate bodily movement of the valve away from the bowl outlet, whereby flush liquid is transferred to the bowl by the electrically driven pump only after opening of the bowl outlet. As seen in the embodiment illustrated, the switch 70 in FIG. 3 has a spring urged part or lever 71 adapted to be contacted and displaced by a block 72 as the latter pivots between the full and broken line positions illustrated. FIG. 7 shows the block mounted in a pivot rod 73 which is bearing supported at 74 at receptacle wall 75, so that the switch is outside the receptacle within a protective housing 76.

The pivot rod includes a crank part 73a extending through a slot 78 in a wing 79 attached to the vertical extent 55a of arm 55. Accordingly, as arm 55a is urged downwardly, the wing 79 rotates crank part 73a to pivot the rod and actuate the switch 70. Inasmuch as the switch is actuated only after the block 72 approaches fully pivoted position indicated by broken lines in FIG. 3, the pumping of flush liquid can occur only after opening of valve 50, Also, upon upward stroking of the plunger, the angular momentum of the motor drive assures some pumping of flush liquid after the valve is closed, so that some flush liquid is returned to and trapped in the bowl at 52 as seen in FIG. 2, despite opening of the switch to cut otf electrical energization of the electric drive. FIG. 1 shows a battery 80, associated with block 81 representative of a vehicle such as a trailer or camper, and connected at 82 with the drive via the control switch. Leads 82a extend from the switch to the motor 30.

Finally, the receptacle has an outlet 90, openable and closable by a plug 91 seating at 92, and through which flush liquid 12 may be released from the first zone 28. A vertical rod 94 connects the plug with a manual actuator or handle 95 seen in FIG. 4 as having screw thread connection at 96 with a fastener 97 attached to the receptacle, for safety. Only after unscrewing of the connection 96 may the plug be pulled off seat 92 to release the contents of the receptacle. The actuators 65 and 95, and the plug or cap 14 are located on rearward extent of the receptacle rearward of seat 15.

FIG. 2 shows the receptacle 10 mounted on a hollow base 100, with outlet receiving a tubular fitting 101 to which a sewage discharge line is connectible, as beneath a trailer floor 102.

I claim:

1. In a toilet assembly, a receptacle for receiving a mixture of flush liquid and sewage, a toilet bowl having a discharge outlet into the lower interior of the receptacle, 9. toilet seat extending generally above the level of the bowl, means including a pump and an electric drive therefor operable to transfer flush liquid from the receptacle lower interior to drain over the bowl upper surface and then through the bowl outlet for return to the receptacle lower interior, a trap valve closing said outlet to trap some of the flush liquid to stand in the bowl, and control means operable to bodily displace the valve away from said outlet for releasing drainage of flush liquid through said outlet and also to effect said operation of the pump drive, said control means including a manually activated plunger, an arm connected with the valve, and force transmitting cam and follower surfaces relatively movable to move said arm thereby to bodily displace the valve downwardly and sidewardly above the level of flush liquid in the receptacle in response to actuation of the plunger.

2. The assembly of claim 1 including a perforated divider extending in the receptacle lower interior to divide said lower interior into a first zone located to receive drainage from said outlet and a second zone from which flush liquid is transferred for drainage over the bowl.

3. The assembly of claim 2 including a receptacle inlet through which fresh flush liquid may be admitted into said receptacle second zone in order to flow through said divider and into the first zone thereby to unclog divider perforations and an openable and closable receptacle outlet through which flush liquid and sewage may be released from said first zone.

4. The assembly of claim 1 in which said valve is closed upwardly to seal against lower rim extent of the bowl defining said outlet, thereby to retain flush liquid in the bowl.

5. In a toilet assembly, a receptacle for receiving a mixture of flush liquid and sewage, a toilet bowl having a discharge outlet into the lower interior of the receptacle, a toilet seat extending generally above the level of the bowl, means including a pump and an electric drive therefor operable to transfer flush liquid from the receptacle lower interior to drain over the bowl upper surface and then through the bowl outlet for return to the receptacle lower interior, a trap valve closing said outlet to trap some of the flush liquid to stand in the bowl, and control means operable to bodily displace the valve away from said outlet for releasing drainage of flush liquid through said outlet and also to effect said operation of the pump drive, said control means including a manually actuated element, an arm connected with the valve, and guide means operable in response to manual actuation of said element to effect arm movement thereby to displace the valve downwardly and sidewardly above the level of flush liquid in the receptacle, said control means including a pump drive control switch having an actuating part located to be operated in response to continued movement of said element beyond a range of element movement sufiicient to initiate said displacement of the valve, whereby flush liquid is ltransferred to the bowl only after opening of the bowl out- 6. The assembly of claim 4 in which said receptacle comprises molded plastic material and supports said switch and including housing structure attached to the receptacle to enclose said switch out of communication with the receptacle interior.

7. The assembly of claim 1 in which the receptacle includes upper and lower sections interfitting at the rim of the lower section, said sections consisting of molded plastic material.

8. The assembly of claim 3 in which the receptacle has rearward extent generally rearwardly of the seat, two manual actuators at said extent, one actuator for said control means, a plug for said receptacle outlet and operatively connected with a second of the manual actuators, and a plug at said receptacle rearward extent controlling said receptacle inlet.

9. The combination of claim 1 including means operable to yieldably resist said bodily displacement of the valve.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1913 Miller 4115 4/1937 Salsbury 4 77 2/1940 Newnes 4115 7/1941 Brownell et a1 4-1 15 10/1961 Corliss 4115 7/1962 Garver 477 12/1962 Dietz et al 4115 3/ 1965 Herkenhine et a1 4--115 12/1966 Corliss 4115 FOREIGN PATENTS 6/1962 France. 4/1965 Germany. 6/ 1955 Australia. 7/ 1949 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner 

1. IN A TOILET ASSEMBLY, A RECEPTACLE FOR RECEIVING A MIXTURE OF FLESH LIQUID AND SEWAGE, A TOILET BOWL HAVING A DISCHARGE OUTLET INTO THE LOWER INTERIOR OF THE RECEPTACLE, A TOILET SEAT EXTENDING GENERALLY ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE BOWL, MEANS INCLUDING A PUMP AND AN ELECTRIC DRIVE THEREFOR OPERABLE TO TRANSFER FLUSH LIQUID FROM THE RECEPTACLE LOWER INTERIOR TO DRAIN OVER THE BOWL UPPER SURFACE AND THEN THROUGH THE BOWL OUTLET FOR RETURN TO THE RECEPTACLE LOWER INTERIOR, A TRAP VALVE CLOSING SAID OUTLET TO TRAP SOME OF THE FLUSH LIQUID TO STAND IN THE BOWL, AND CONTROL MEANS OPERABLE TO BODILY DISPLACE THE VALVE AWAY FROM SAID OUTLET FOR RELEASING DRAINAGE OF FLUSH LIQUID THROUGH SAID OUTLET AND ALSO TO EFFECT SAID OPERATION OF THE PUMP DRIVE, SAID CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING A MANUALLY ACTIVATED PLUNGER, AN ARM CONNECTED WITH THE VALVE, AND FORCE TRANSMITTING CAM AND FOLLOWER SURFACES RELATIVELY MOVABLE TO MOVE SAID ARM THEREBY TO BODILY DISPLACE THE VALVE DOWNWARDLY AND SIDEWARDLY ABOVE THE LEVEL OF FLUSH LIQUID IN THE RECEPTACLE IN RESPONSE TO ACTUATION OF THE PLUNGER. 